Are you an anti-gym person?

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Does the thought of going to  “the gym” to workout sound like one of the worst things in the world to you?  Do you immediately cringe when you think about having to put your workout clothes on and go into a large room with all kinds of people you don’t know while you try to do some exercises that you probably are not very good at?  Maybe you always feel like you are not sure if you are doing things correctly or doing the right thing.  Does it make you nervous, intimidated and just plain unexcited?  You are not alone and I often think that the anti-gym feelings are the reason that many people don’t start an exercise program.  They have an image in their head about what fitness looks like and it’s a turn off!!

If you are one of those people I have some great news for you!  There are many alternatives!!  There are so many great options of how you can fit fitness and movement into your life and never have to step into a gym!!  

  1.  Find more ways to move and add movement into your life at home and work!  Walks with the dog, walking the stairs instead of the elevator or just parking a little further away are all ways to add functional movement into your life!!  You don’t need to log your walking miles in on a treadmill for them to count!  Want to incorporate more movement at work?  Check out our Office Pilates series….simple movements and exercises you can do right at your desk!
     
  2. Find some strength and flexibility exercises that you can do in the comfort of your home.  Not sure where to start?   YouTube can be an amazing resource for learning new Pilates, Yoga and strength training exercises. (We might be biased but we really love the Rivercity Pilates YouTube Channel!) 
  3. Try a gym alternative!  There are a lot of local fitness professionals that offer fitness in places other than the gym.  Check out a local Pilates or Yoga studio and you’ll immediately know these spaces are not a gym atmosphere. At Rivercity Pilates we pride ourselves in offering a small studio setting that feels so comfortable and inviting that clients actually look forward to coming in to exercise.  There are also a lot of fitness professionals who offer outdoor fitness options like Pilates in the park, group paddleboarding (have you tried Pilates on the Lake yet?), hiking groups and more!!

At Rivercity Pilates we believe movement time is a key part of your health plan and we love finding ways to help you incorporate it into your life without having to go to “the gym” …!  

Try out a complimentary private session and you might discover that the “anti-gym” person in you loves our welcoming atmosphere, small individualized group classes and personalized instruction!! 

 

Not starting Pilates or Yoga because it’s hard is not an excuse (anymore!!)

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I overheard a conversation the other day ago where a couple of my Pilates clients were talking about the new Yoga class we were offering. One of the students had been taking the class and mentioned to the other student she should try it.  Her response was ,”I probably should…but Yoga is hard!”    This struck me as a little bit funny because as her Pilates teacher…I’ve seen how hard she works in my Pilates classes.  

If you’ve done Pilates, you know that there is not necessarily anything easy about Pilates. Pilates requires you to be completely present in the moment, focusing on your breath, your movements, your alignment, your core engagement and I personally feel like it is never “easy”. As much as I love to move and exercise my body I kind of think it’s alway “hard” to regularly exercise.   It’s hard to make myself add it in (even when I don’t feel like it), it’s hard to stay focused on what I’m doing in the moment and it’s hard to not want to quit when my muscles get tired and feel like they are working!  So I guess it seems logical that when anybody is contemplating doing something new, that we might use the excuse “it’s going to be hard”  as a way to justify not doing it.  I kind of see it as our mind’s way of tricking us into not being vulnerable enough to try something new…even though that something new might have immense benefits in our life!   

If you are one of those people who is not trying Pilates or Yoga because you think it’s too hard, maybe it’s time to change the story you are telling yourself. Try telling yourself that learning a new movement practice is a challenge for everyone, but the challenge is what in the long run is going to help you get results in your body.   Starting a new movement practice is never easy and because of that the staff at Rivercity Pilates always makes sure to do their best to create an environment that you can succeed in and actually enjoy.  Here’s just a few of the things we do:

  • We get to know you before your first class.  We offer a complimentary private session to all clients so we can get to know you and your body before you take your first class. We do this so we can make you as comfortable and at ease as possible for your first class! We find that this helps us create the best possible movement experience for you.  As a client, it’s kind of like already having a friend on your first day of school… 
  • Each exercise will be taught in a way that is doable in your body!  There will always be lots of options on how to do an exercise and you’ll feel completely comfortable choosing the version that feels best in your body
  • There are no unreasonable expectations.  You don’t have to worry about being the only one in class not able to twist like a pretzel or stand on your head….. our classes focus on functional movements that don’t require you to already be super flexible or know how to do some acrobatic move! 
  • We won’t single you out and over correct everything you do, Our teachers are great at teaching in a way that ensures you are doing things properly and not injuring yourself without making you feel silly or embarrassed because you are working on things!  
  • Exercises will always be safe for your body.  Safety is always on the top of our instructors mind and you will be coached on how to do exercises as safely and as effectively as possible in your body!
  • The class atmosphere will be positive and inspiring!  Our teachers are pros at creating a great environment to work out in!  You’ll walk out of classes not only with a great workout, but feeling good about what you did and enjoying your movement time!  

Ready to try out a new movement practice like Pilates or Yoga in your life?  We would love to get to know you and introduce you to a mindful movement practice!! Schedule a complimentary session to meet us and see if we’ll be a good fit for you! 

Is a Pilates studio full of “exercise people” ?

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At Rivercity Pilates, most of our clients consider themselves non-exercise people!

Are you an exercise person?  I define an “exercise person” as a person who naturally enjoys movement and adds it into their life on a regular basis.  You know….the person who likes to train for a race, maybe even conquered a marathon or a 50 mile bike ride. Those people that ride their bike to work everyday, walk their dog daily rain or shine and maybe even have a daily workout routine. Maybe it’s the person who is always posting pictures of their favorite scene on their bike ride or run on Facebook and checking into their gym on Facebook because they loved their workout so much…

If you are not an “exercise person” I have some great news for you……many of our our regular clients at the studio are not either.  We definitely have some “exercise people” at our studio who are very active doing things like running, cycling, swimming, etc. in their life.  These people will use Pilates, Barre or Yoga to cross train their bodies and help keep them balanced.  What we find is that because so many “exercise people” are naturally good at working out on their own they don’t really make up the bulk of our regulars at the studio.   

Most of our regulars at the studio would probably not call themselves “exercise people”.  In fact, this is the very reason they sign up for regular classes…they know that if they were to just try to exercise on their own…they probably wouldn’t do it!  Most of our “non exercise people” regulars tell us they love that all they have to do is sign up for a class and show up.  They know and trust that if they can get here our instructors will take them through a great, safe workout in their body and they will feel amazing afterwards.  They love the accountability that is created when they attend regularly and their instructor gets to know them and their goals.  They love that they create friendships with other “non exercise people” and those friendships inspire them to keep showing up! 

If worrying about being in a room full of “exercise people” was one of the reasons you’ve been putting off trying Pilates.…cross that excuse off your list and contact us today to schedule your complimentary one on one session to get introduced to Pilates and the studio!! 

WINNER – Joe’s Challenge

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Joe’s Challenge Winner!

Since January 1st many clients participated in what we called Joe’s Challenge! We challenged you to complete 30 sessions of Pilates or Yoga by March 31 or by the end of April if you got a late start. We asked you to send us an email about how you felt after 10, after 20 and after 30 sessions. We have shared some of what you said in our past couple of newsletters. We know you’ve been anticipating the prize announcement!
 
…and the winner is….
 

Danielle Wilbanks!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!  You win 3 Months of  Unlimited Classes! 
$780 Value!
Thanks to every client that participated! You are all winners by continuing to move and encourage and inspire us all with your dedication to your Pilates and Yoga practice.
 
Here’s what a couple of our fantastic clients said after finishing the challenge:
 
“As always, I am grateful that Pilates came to me at this stage in life!! I love the classes in which I participate, 
the instructors, the studio, the participants…AND, most of all that it’s keeping me fit, toned, limber & balanced. I have no fear of saying ‘I’ve fallen & I can’t get up’….I CAN get up!!!”      ~Pam
 
“Having finished 30 sessions I come to recognize how I actually feel when I’m not doing Pilates. It took me a while to finish all 30 sessions because I was traveling and what I noticed most is how much better I can move and feel when I’m attending Pilates regularly. When I miss Pilates I am not as flexible and not able to move as well and overall just don’t feel as good.” ~Cyndi

 

Pilates Day is Coming Saturday, May 5th !!

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Mark your calendars and sign up for classes for a Pilates Day Celebration at Rivercity Pilates!
May 5, 2018 —  8 am to 12:30 pm
If you are brand new to Pilates, we are offering an introductory class just for you!  Part discussion and part movement, you’ll walk away from this 50 minute class with a better understanding of what Pilates actually is, a knowledge of the basic concepts that are used and how a regular Pilates practice could help you feel better in your body.  The movement portion of class will be doable for complete beginners no matter what is going on in your body!
Class Schedule: 
  • 9:00 am Mat All Level Class w/Janee 
  • 9:00 am Return to Life on the Mat w/Carey
  • 10:00 am Get Introduced to Pilates w/Carey
  • 10:00 am Pilates Tower w/Janee
  • 11:30 am Get Introduced to Pilates w/Carey

How do I find the best Pilates teacher for me?

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If you are new to Pilates, you may be a little overwhelmed when it comes to finding a Pilates instructor or maybe you didn’t even realize that it was important to make sure your instructor was qualified and a good fit for you!

When it comes to fitness many people think that a good trainer or instructor is simply someone who can push you to strengthen your body and do something you might not choose to do if left to yourself.

And yes, a good instructor will motivate you to do what you might not have thought you can do.  But more importantly, your instructor will teach you how to do it with the proper form and technique for your individual body so that you don’t get hurt and you get the maximum health results from your efforts!

There is a lot more to TEACHING movement and exercise than just calling out exercises.   A good instructor will be able to guide you through a movement while helping you adjust and fine tune your technique at the same time.  A good instructor will help you learn a movement in your own body and not just having you mimic what they are doing.

Whether you are taking a class at the local gym or a Pilates or Yoga studio- it is still important for you to research your instructor!

You may be surprised to know that many fitness centers and studios don’t require any sort of formal training or teaching experience for their Pilates teachers.

Often times it is assumed that if someone can teach a aerobics class or is a trained Yoga instructor that they are qualified to teach a Pilates class.  Many times these instructors have never even taken a Pilates class from a qualified instructor.   Often times these unqualified teachers have no Pilates teaching experience or training at all.

So what should I look for in an instructor?

1. Learn about where they did their training.  How many hours of training have they completed?  Was the training only mat work, or did it include equipment?  Were they trained to work with different populations, including those with injuries or special needs?

Most credible Pilates training programs start out with 100-150 hours of training, minimum for a basic Mat Instructor program.  To qualify to take the Pilates Method Alliance Professional Certifying Exam, instructors must have a minimum 450 hours of training on all Pilates apparatus and Pilates Mat work at all levels. Most fully trained instructors have 700 or more training hours logged in before they take their exam.

2.  Ask about their teaching experience.  How long have they been teaching?  Do they teach group classes only, private sessions or both?

3.  Ask to talk with them in person or maybe try out a class or session with them.  It’s important for you to feel comfortable with your instructor at all levels.  Not only do you want to make sure they are properly trained but you want to make sure you enjoy their teaching style.  Every teacher brings their own unique style to their teaching and it’s important to find an instructor that best fits you and your personality.

Want to learn more about how to find a Pilates instructor?  Go to http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org and read more.    Founded in 2001, the Pilates Method Alliance is the professional association and certifying agency for Pilates teachers.  For the past decade, Pilates teachers from around the world have worked together to create a unified community, to share knowledge and information, and most importantly, to establish the practice of teaching Pilates as a profession.